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J. MYVALT AND A. S. ELIASON.

AUTOMATIC WINDOW GUARD.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 14,1920.

INVENTORS Axe 5.

Sig-EL A TTORNE Y J. MYVALT AND A. S. ELIASON.

AUTOMATIC WINDOW GUARD.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 14,1990.

Patented Oct. 12, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2'.

,IIIIIIIIIIIIII lllllrll! I Sig-Ti Parent orrics.

JOSEPH MYVALT AND AXEL S. ELIASGN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

e AUTOMATIC WINDOW GUARD.

1 355 246 Specification of Letters Patent. Patented O t 12 192()Application filed April 14, 1-920. Serial No. 373,941.

To all iii/10m it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOSEPH Mrvanr and Axon lihiinstm, residing at theborough of Eaanhattan, in the county, city, and State of New York, haveinvented a new and useful Automatic Window-Guard, oi which the iollowingis a specification.

This invention relates to devices for automatically protecting theinterior of a room from damage by the entrance of rain, snow, sleet andhail, etc, through windows and the like, when left open for purposes oi:venti iation the mechanism being put into oper ation almostinstantaneously upon the precipitation on"? a very minute quantity ofhydrous matter.

The main objects of the invention are broadly, to provide a combined,light and rain excluding guard adapted to be located adjacent to awindow or other wall opening, so that in operative position it will becapable oi? acting as a screen to prevent the entrance through suchopening of rain or other hydrous precipitation, the guard normallyoccupying non-protecting position in order to leave the window or otheropening tree and unobstructed for the admission of air as well as light.T he invention further comprises mechanism automatically set intooperation by contact with certain portions thereof, by a minute quantityof hydrous matter, which will cause such light and rain guard to assumea closing or shielding position. i i leans are included in the inventionfor locking the automatic guard closing mechanism against actuation, andalso for moving the guard manually, either partially or entirely, intoopen or closed posit on.

Another object is the production of a device of the character described,which will remain unaffected when the rain, snow, sleet or hail, etc,falls substantially perpendicularly, but will become operative it thehydrous precipitation is drifting or falling slantwise.

A further object is the provision of a device of the nature set forth,readily attached to or removed from the exterior of a window opening,and which can be placed in position without disfiguring the window orobstructing the vision therethrough.

Still another object is to procure a device of the kind referred to,which shall be of a simple and durable construction, not liable to getout of order, besides being noiseless and positive in its action. N

A still further object is to produce a deice of the type specified, theautomatic operation whereof depends upon the fracture oi a frangiblematerial renewable at low.

its manual and automatic mechanism applied thereto, the guard beingindicated in its rolled up or non-shielding position;

Fig. 11 is broken side view of the construction and mechanismrepresented in the foregoing view, the window proper being in sectiontaken on the line 11-11 of Fig. 1, looking toward the left in thedirection pointed out by the arrows pertaining to the said line; i

Fig. 111 is a broken horizontal cross-section taken on the line 111111of the next preceding figure, looking downwardly in the direction of thearrows appertaining to the last named line, parts being omitted;

l ig, 1V is an enlarged sectional side view of hydrously operatedautomatic tripping mechanism included in the preceding ures, the sectionrunning irregularly on the line 11 11 of Fig. V, looking toward theright in the direction pointed out by the arrows pertaining to the lastmentioned line; e I

Fig. V is a side view oi the mechanism shown in liig. 1V, looking towardthe loft thereof;

Fig. V1 is a right hand side view of an element appearing in Fig. IV,detached therefrom Fig. VII is a horizontal section extendingirregularly along the line VII-VII looking down in direction of thearrows thereto appertaining;

Fig. V111 is a broken, enlarged front view of a guard and its inclosureappearing in the upper portion of 1, parts thereof being in sectiontaken on the line Vlll- VIII of Fig. IX looking in the direction pointedout by the arrows pertaining to the line last named; and

Fig. IX isa sectional end view of the last preceding figure, the sectionbeing taken on the line IX-IX thereof, in the direction of the arrowsthereto appertaining.

Generally described, the invention consists of a roller shade mountedunder a hood at the exterior upper portion of a window openin The freeedge of this shade is weighted so as to have an inherent tendency tounwind and descend in front of the window opening, being suitably guidedso as to steadily follow the course arranged therefor. :l re-settingmeans disposed at one side of the window i provided for winding up theshade on its roller to raise the same from lowered position. Retainingmechanism located at the other side of the window engages with theroller to keep the shade in wholly or partly raised condition. Areleasing device normally held inactive by a frangible member is adaptedupon fracture of the latter by a tion of hydrous precipitation thereon,to automatically disengage the retaining mechanism and thereby liberatetile shade which then descends in front of the open window, excludingtherefrom 2th, snow, sleet and hail, etc. The frangi ole member iscontained within a magazine wherefroin it may be withdrawn to exposecertain portion thereof to the releasing device, as required. The lattermay be locked inoperative to permit independent manua actuation of theretaining mechanism in car junction with the resetting means.

The advantages of the invention as here out ined best realized when allof its features and instrumentalities are combined in the one and samestructure, but, useful devices may be produced embodying less than thewhole.

it will be obvious to those skilled in the art to which the inventionappertains, upon beromii conversant with the details thereof, that thesame may be inco 'oorated in sever l different constructions. Thecompanying drawings. therefore, are submitted merely as showing thepreferred er:- emplification of the invention.

Referring o the several views aforesaid,

the reference let er A, B designate the sides of the window frame, andC, D the top and bottom pieces thereof, which are secured to gether andpositioned in too house wall as shown. Slidingly mounted in a well-knownmanner in this window frame, are the upper and lower sashes E and F. i-ill of these parts may be of any suitable construction as well asoperation, and form no part of the present invention.

Secured preferably to the exterior top portion of the window frame, is ahood-like structure G, comprising a straight rear piece 1, a top 2extending at right angles to the latter and ending in a downwardlycurved front or apron 3, these parts being joined by end walls 4L, 5.Screws 6 passing through ears 7 constituting prolongations of therear-piece 1, serve to fasten the hood in place directly beneath anoverhanging ledge H of the building wall, whereby it is lirmly retainedin its assigned position.

'l runnions 10, 11 pertaining to a shade roller 18, are journaled in theend walls 4: and 5 respectively. To the roller 13 is attached a watr-proof guard-curtain 14, wound up thereon as indicated in Figs. I andII. This curtain may be made of opaque, translucent or transparentmaterial. so as to either exclude, partially let pass, or admit thelight through the same.

Rigidly secured to one extremity of the said shade roller is a sheave 17having double grooves 18, 19. lVinding one to the left, the other righthand, and securely fixed endwise, one in each of said grooves, ar twobranches 20, 21 of an operating cord 23. The continuous lower end ofthis cord is looped around a tension pulley 24 that carries a yoke 25(Figs. 1 and ill). A spring 26 attached at one end to the latter has itsother extremity anchored to one of a pair of brackets 27, 28, securedfor example to the bottom piece C of the window frame, which springserves to keep the said cord 23 taut irrespective of atmosphericconditions.

By the before recited construction and arrangement it will beunderstood, that when mostly all of the cord branch 20 is wound up inthe groove 18. the guard curtain 14 vill be rolled up on its 1 llerwithin the hood G and the entire window is then uncovered. Vice verse,when the cord branch .91 reversely, is wound up in the grooves 19,practically all of the guard curtain will be unrolied from the roll r 13so as to cover r shield the w ndow front, in its entirety. Thus, it willbe seen that no rain or other hydrous precipitation can entrance throughthe window, even though be partially open at both top and bottom. Thecord constitutes the resetting means for the curtain 14, and bymanipulation of its branches 2G, 21, the same can be operated Cir toeither window guarding or uncovering position.

Extending between the lower edges of the hoods end walls 51-, 5, and thebefore mentioned brackets 27, 28 along the ogposite sides of the windowframe, are curtain guides 31, 32 composed of wires or other suitablemeans. To the outer or freev edge of the guard curtain is secured in anypreferred manner, a gravity bar 33, usually of heavy metal, made weatherproof. T he projecting extremities 3 1 of this bar are each providedwith a suitable aperture adapted to receive therein the said guide wires31, 32 and thereby lead the guard curtain along its assigned pathwithout interfering with the adjacent parts of the window, during theraising and lowering process But, in any event the said bar 33 issuliiciently heavy to instantaneously gravitate the free lower edge ofthe said guard curtain 14: down in front of the window, whereby theformer may unroll for its full length and descend into window shieldingand guarding position. At 35 is shown a stop for limiting the descent ofthe guard curtain. This step may be made of resilient mate 'ial so as torlampingly engage one of the guide wires 31, 32, and also admit ofadjustment thereon in order to predetermine the point at which it isdesired to arrest the downward travel of the said curtain. r

The descending movement just described, can only occur when mechanism K,which normally retains the guard curtain against rotation, is-released.Such mechanism is preferably in the form of a roller braking device andcomprises a brake drum 3? fixed to the end of the curtain roller 13opposite to the double grooved sheave l7. Adjacent to the said drum andusually below the same is oscillatably mounted a brake-lever 38 upon theshank of a screw or stud 39 supported in any suitable manner from theproximate end wall a of the hood G. Pivotally carried by the lever 38 isa bralre-shoe 4L0, the upper curved working face whereof is main tainedin operative contact with the periphery of the drum 37 by a weight il orits equivalent, which exerts a downward pull on the inner end of thesaid lever, suflicient to keep the drum and the therewith connectedroller from being rotated by the gravity ba 33 acting tangentiallythereon through the medium of the guard curtain 14-. In order to releasethe said brake shoe 4L0 from ementwith the drum, a cord or wire L2depending from the outer free end of the lever 38 is given pull in adownward direction.

indicated in assembled form, Figs. 1 Tl, and in detail, Figs. IV to VIIin elusive, an automatic hydro-actuated guard rurtain releasing deviceL, is generally secured in position exterior-1y to the window on theright hand side looking in, short distance below the middle thereof. Thesaid device L comprises a-housing including chambers 44, as, and an armat all prefer-- ably formed integral with a bracket 47, and adapted forattachment, as for instance by lag screws 48, to the side B of thewindow frame externally thereon, being rendered non-corroding in anyapproved manner.

Located within the chamber 4%- is a trip element 52 which may be in thenature 0% a weight that has rising therefrom. a standard 53 provided attop with a supporting hook 54 having cars 55 through which is passed thelower end of the cord 42, previously described as being connected upwith the or "e carrying lever 38. The arrangement is such that whenreleased, the said element 52 overbalances the counterweight n at theinner end of the lever 38, thereby pulling down the outer end of thelatter and withdrawing the shoe 40 from contact with the bralre-drnin37, so that the guard curtain is free to descend, as before pointed out.The said standard 53 may beheld at the foot thereof.

to the weight 52 as by means of a screw 56 and have its straight middleportionslidable through an opening provided therefor in the top of theinclosing housing wall. A plate 59 covering the open faces of thechambers 44, 45 may be reinovably secured in place as by screws 60entered into suit ably tapped openings provided therefor in ears 61projecting from the walls of the housing. Pivotally mountednpon the latter is a latch 62 capable of having its free swinging end engage with anotch 63 formed in the standard 53 and thereby loclr the same and thethereto attached element 52 from gravitational movement in the chamber44:. The said locking latch 62 constitutes the means for rendering thereleasing device in operative when it is desired tomanually operate theresetting and retaining mechanisms.

Bevolubly carried by the cover plate 59 is a'spindle 66 having itsoverhanging end 8? which is shouldered, journaled in an opening providedtherefor in the rear wall of the housing pertaining to the chamber 45.f2. spool 68 upon which is wound one end of a frangible member 69 thatmay be in the nature of a bibulous or water absorbin tape of paper orother material, is secured as by pinning it to the spindle 66 within thechamber 45, the latter serving as a .inagazine wherein the said tapemaybe stored. The instrumentality for operating the said spindleincidentally to advancing or retracting this tape, is here shown asconsisting of a knurled knob 70 fastened to the near end of the spindle66 adjacent to the cover 59 on the outside thereof. I i

Mounted also in a rotatable manner in the upper portion of the saidchamber 45 is a passes through the said shield 88.

the housing apuertaining to the chamber as,

which opening is protected by a against the entrance of or theprecipitation theretln'ough.

is shown, a friction s rin; one end to the housing or magazine bears wiextremity upon the port' o tape running eve the guid serves to keep the1 ter a securing u outer terminal is i i securing device nay be iorinethereinljre'tore desc in its top face into which the t by a jectionincorporateo wi of a resilient finger 8 preferably ember ie s tened withits tai means of a sore q a +1. or tne riaogiole the contact 9 with thero l Q1 1 so firmly held thereo turned nose portion raising the lingerin or" the tape bet jaws 79 an d The horizon t L tain the bet re nientio54 pertaining to the weigh-1 52, without slipping. when the exposedportionor the ta sorbed sutlicient moisture sleet or hail, locging labled or b comes so wealre let tures whereby the we: by gravity to theboth at which moment th- K,

closing the releasino' shield 88, preierabl c (T and 1V .l in Mt falling.VQLGL such as 1 lsuai y it c d,- d

dow shi c or the l' I inward so as to =l re en to wet the ii A of aroom. is indicated an alj'iljt-il 'e where the brake lever operatingcord e21, Any

water finding ts way by this aperture will follow the ord 19 down to thetop of tie supporting hool' 55, where flows oil the same without raching the tripping portion 69 oi the fra, gible member.

The ope ation o tAiS improve: automatic hydrously actuated window guarois tolit being fully wound roller into non-shielding or osition shown inFigs. i and I1; and element 52w1t orting work ng ti no w lo 7 l 1 i otceven though the sad tape 1 a the trip weight will not drop i 116 thisposition; the guard curtain may il e e raised or lowered by pro cordoranches 2i), 2

:utention being paid to the engagee shoe with t ie brake oruin 21-? scer to resist the gravitational z 2 ti oar 58 on the said guard curtain.

-atic ac ua' 'rion the locl ia 'eo from the supporting standarc th tripweight will then be h upon the working stretch tape; and it rain orother hy =1 tioi is driven by wind or othe the rain hield 88 upon the sno '9 ":me will almost eously beweakened by the absorption of the tapein two; thus drawing the cord which is connected up rake cUrying lever38 and reroller 13; whereupon the gravi ty our 03 l at once oend alongits guides, pulling t 1e guard on tain 1% down with it; until the saidbar encounters the stop at any point compatible which may be set withthe complete covering and shielding of that portion of the window whichhas been left open.

0 reset the device after an automatic actuation, it is nly necessa y toroll up the uard cu tain by manipulation of the cord Q1 20; throw thelatch 62 into the notch in the supporting standard 52 so as to lock thesame and the trip weight in the raised position shown in Fig. IV; rotatethe knob 70 so tl t the spool 68 may be easily revelvet drawing on thetaoe and catching hold of 1e same at its uoper broken end; pull the tapeend tirougli the weight supporting hook raise the weight securing springfinger 81 from the head 78; remove the other broken tape end from thelatter; insert the new end of he t pe etween said head ant. finger; andallow said finger to snap back- 1nt0 pos1t1on; when the locklng latch isnext withdrawn from the supporting standard, the trip weight with itshook will again be sustained by the working portion 69 of the tape,ready for another hydrous actuation, as hereinheiore described.

il hile a certain preferred embodiment of this device has been shown anddescribed, it will be understood that changes in the term, arrangements,proportions, sizes and details thereof may be made, without departingfrom the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Having described our invention what we desire to secure by LettersPatent and claim, 18

l. A device oi the class described, compriing in combination, guardadapted to be moved into shielding position, means for normallyretaining said guard in non-shielding; condition, and a member mutableby contact oi hydrous matter therewith for releasing said means toenable the guard to move into said position.

A device of the class described, comprising in combination, a guardadapted to be moved into shielding position, means normally retainingsaid guard in non-shielding condition, and a tripping memher disabledupon contact of hydrous matter therewith, for releasing said means so asto permit the guard to gravitate into said position.

A device of the class described, comprising in combination, a guardadapted to he moved into shielding position, means normallyretaining'said guard in non-shielding condition, and positively actingmechanical means automatically operating upon contact of hydrous mattertherewith, to trip said means so as to release the guard and permit thesame to move by gravity into shielding position.

4. A device of the class described, comprising in combination, a guardcapable of being manually moved into and out of shieldingposition, andalso automatically into the latter condition, means for normallyretaining said guard in non-shielding position, a trip element adaptedto release said means, a member capable while in an anhydrous state ofholding said element inactive, but rendering the element active whenfractured through weakening by hydrous matter.

5. A device of the class described, comprising in combination, a guardcapable of being automatically moved into shielding position, means forretaining said guard in non-shielding position, an element adapted torelease said means, a member normally holding said element inactive, butrendering the latter operative when weakened through wetting, and meansfor protecting said member from vertically falling hydrous matter.

6. A device of the class described, coinprising in combination, a guardcapable of being automatically moved into shleldlng posit on, means iorretaining said guard in non-shielding position, an element adapted torelease said means,v and a member of thin strip :torm normally holdingsaid element inactive, but rendering the same operative when weakened byhydrous matter.

7,. A device of the class described, comprising in combination, a guardcurtain mounted at or near the upper part of a window opening andarrangedto gravitationally descend in shielding relation thereto, meansfor re-setting said curtain after descent, merhanism for retaining thelatter in non-shielding relation to said opening, an element inactuating connection with said mechanism adapted to release the same,and a normally anhydrous. member capable of holding said elementinactive, but rendering it operative when affected by wetting.

8, A device of the class described, comprising in combination, guardcurtain mounted at or near the upper part of a window opening andarranged to gravitationally descend in shielding relation. thereto,means for resetting said curtain after descent, mechanism for retainingthe latter in non shielding relation to said opening, an element inactuating connection with said mechanism adapted to release the some, ananhydrous member normally holding said element inactive, but renderingit operative when affected by wetting, and means for locking the elementagainst actuation irrespective oi the condition of said member.

9. A. device of the class described, comprising in combination, acovered guardcurtain mounted for rotation at or near the upper part oi?a window opening, a guided gravity bar acting to lower the tree portionof said curtain in shielding relation to said opening, means "forresetting the curtain after its descent capable also of being used formanual descension thereot, mechanism for retaining the latter innon-shielding position, a stop serving to limit the descent of thecurtain, an element connected up with said mechanism adapted to trip thesame, and member capable while in dry state of normally holding saidelement inactive, hut rendering it operative when afiected by wetting,whereby the release of the retaining mechanism permits the curtain todescend.

10. A device of the class described, comprising in combination, a rollermounted guard curtain rotatably supported at or near the upper part of awindow opening: a guided gravity har tending to lower the tree portionof s d curtain in front of said opening-9:: double grooved sheave at oneend of said roller; a looped cord for raising the curtain afteractuation by said bar,

*apable also of manually lowering it, and including branches wound inopposite directions in said grooves, the arrangement being such that onebranch winds up while the 5 other unwinds; a pulley carried by thelooped end or said cord applying tension thereon; mechanism cooperatingwith the other end of the roller retaining the curtain in raisedcondition; and means tor controlling said mechanism, consisting of atrip element and a reel ber coacting there with, the latter beingcapable while in a d y state normally holding said element i ctire, buteii ecting release thereof when wetted.

ll. A device ot the class described, cornpi'sing in combination, aroller mounted grand-curtain rotatabiy supported at or near the upperpart of a window pening, tn arrangement being such as to cause the ;reeportion of said curtain to descend in shielding relation to saidopening; means for resetting the curtain after descent; mechanism forretaining the curtain in nonshielding position, including a brakecarrying lever coacting with said roller; an element connected up withsaid lever; and a member capable while in a dry state of normallyholding said element inactive but ren- 30 dering it operatis 'e whenwetted, thereby effecting release of the brake lever and desrension ofthe curtain.

1:2. r1 device of the class described, comprising in combination, aroller mounted guard curtain. rotatably supported above a window openingand arranged to have its tree portion descend in front thereof; meansfor resetting said curtain after ClGSiiBllSlOIl; an instrumentality forretaining the latter in raised condition; and mechanism for releasingsaid instrumentality, consisting of a trip weight and a frangiblemember, said weight remaining normally inactive when supported by saidmember while in a dry state, but being rendered operative when the samefractures through wetting.

13. a device of the class described, comprising in combination, a rollermounted guard curtain rotatably supported above a window opening andadapted to have its tree portion descend in front thereof; means forresetting said curtain art-er descension; instrumentality for reta ningthe latter in raised condition; and mechanism for releasing saidinstrumentality, including a frangible tape, a support for holding saidtape in its assigned position, and a weight connected up with saidinstrumentality, said weight being inactive while sustained by the tapewhen in a dry state, but being rendered operative upon fracture of thetape through the action of moisture.

' JOSEPH MYVALT.

AXEL S. ELIASON.

